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Exploring Ferenczi's Concept of Identification with the Aggressor: Its Role in Trauma, Everyday Life, and the Therapeutic Relationship

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Abstract

When we feel overwhelmed by an inescapable threat, we "identify with the aggressor" (Ferenczi, 1933). Hoping to survive, we sense and "become" precisely what the attacker expects of us--in our behavior, perceptions, emotions, and thoughts. Identification with the aggressor is closely coordinated with other responses to trauma, including dissociation. Over the long run, it can become habitual and can lead to masochism, chronic hypervigilance, and other personality distortions. But habitual identification with the aggressor also frequently occurs in people who have not suffered severe trauma, which raises the possibility that certain events not generally considered to constitute trauma are often experienced as traumatic. Following Ferenczi, I suggest that emotional abandonment or isolation, and being subject to a greater power, are such events. In addition, identification with the aggressor is a tactic typical of people in a weak position; as such, it plays an important role in social interaction in general.
  !"#$% &'"''(')*
$% %&+12:''(')*
Exploring Ferenczi's Concept of Identification with the Aggressor: Its Role in
Trauma, Everyday Life, and the Therapeutic Relationship
Jay Frankel, Ph.D.
Abstract
, - ./%/ 0%  1
(Ferenczi, 1933)2+--0/.1%  
+3+/ -. +  
 %  +.+
4- +/. /+. .
  %- %
5+ /+  6+%+  -
+-+.   /% -%
++.+.
+ ././+/7
+ -  %
8+ %.
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%$ &!Psychoanalytic Dialogues8+%
9+- : +$% %89+-;<
=-%$$.$%  %$% % +
.%$%  %  !$%  %>
$. ,.!, + ;+ 
$%  
> +   ;!.!?!! %5%
&-+ &+9+/5 ?2;.
$.9 #/59+.%, /%  + +
-  -% +..> 
55/? ?@?%(#+   
.%+.!-  )
!+ !$%  %>!--:%A
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(''(
!/+%%    / 
%%   > +++
+"0++.1-%/  .> 
%/+  +  -/+
He knew that while his father's eyes rested on him he must look frank, he must look wide-
eyed, simple.
32%# Call It Sleep
I  !(1933)$+ 
- ./%   -+  +
   , .+-
> /%."
 ./ ++ -%   +
+-,/+-.+-.
.+>  +.%
>   +./ 
+/-- . +. 
+
The Concept
 //+%  %
(1933):% .   
!++< + 3'*)12
-%.!+(1936)+ ./%  
  0/%. +. /+. 
  . ..    
.  1'')
/%" /-- 
.+   .
3333333333333
'Ferenczi's 1933 ,/9./'*)
+/ '*))B.+/  +'*C*
('(
.- !++ ./+actually
 /+.%feeling.+2"
 %.. +  //+ 
(1933)+-   /%+ +
0+/ .-+.  -
  % 8.%/-+ .- %
% .-  D> +-%
+++/%/+/%%(/%
7 .1'E('E)
 2>  0/.FG1'EH  
2/ -+%.++ +
  /% .%+7  
. .%subordinate+- 
9 +/+divine 3 
.7+   %  
/+ ..++--! we do   
-+"++%.+--  + +/.
%+.  !   > +
  !+(1936)/"...
+/.  +  
.
2  I>  %
 -   1933
'EH -/%  -(
--  %   .%
..    .1930-1932E81932
3333333333333
(1933) 19301930-
193219311932 /+  9
(1998). 
2-.+%-
 ++ . /
   / 
% %(Ferenczi, 1909)
(')(
J'J*')*)'C/ ++-.
%-+--% + 
-.+ /%+--@ 0. 
1+ %/-%  + ..
% + . 
, ++ +   +%- +/ 
 7/1933'EC('EH3
%  --feeling   
 .   +-. 
  .4>  .%-  +  /+
. +  "(1932)/- +. .%0/.
- ..+    
> +D+D1*'!.
 .     .%%
 / -/+ . 09 .%.1  
-%. %--- 
  +% 6+%< %
. .-+
 -.%/'A'*'')
3333333333333
)9&-%1994''A+ +.-.
%-.+-.  
C/%   + intention
. -.+/7-%> .+ %/+  
   -... 
+/7-%2.(1992) /+ 6+/%  
%.%%/ +/7-% 4.-
#+ (1999) + +/.++-
  ,/#+ +
  ++.%6+ ++
! . -  /% 
/..  -%% 
%4.  . %+
+   + +/+6+ + /0+1
+ 2+  +/6++/+
01 -
('C(
#%&-(2000) /--. . 
 +."
The most singularly devastating aspect of childhood abuse is the violent penetration and
coopting of mind that occurs when one is emotionally and physically dependent on
another who violates and exploits—when … one person is granted the authority to
control and define the other's reality, even when that definition of reality exists in stark
contrast to the person's actual lived experience [p. 219].
, %  /+.
 I#(1968) +   %
..%> .  
-..  experience of himself3 #
concordant5%     /
.%/% / -  inner object 
0 1> complementary + .  .!
. . . +/+7+
/%+ -.8. 
 .+/++% -+ / +
 -...%> +  
/ ..%.
 1993ab -/  +++ 
-/%   + + /
..%&-%(1994) -
   +/++%
(++/..%
9.(1999) +  
/% / -like.2 0 
% %.   + %
+/7-% ( (  % 
/%/  1141$
0+///
('H(
. +/+F  G --/+ 
. -+ 11409.
+ +  . 
-. ./% .
++ % /+
 :%   . 
 -// 
 8  % -/%.. . 
  
 . 6+ +%+ 
. .373 . /+
 + !+
+ ..%.  .
3%his .his5 
.  %+ 
 67/+. one's own
7&
3333333333333
H(1930-1932).  %%  
06+%1 0+18
1933'E)+./.
.% + --. 
+%
E.% -/- all ++.
1998H*(E +   
A>Abraham and Torok, 1968 7%.0
1'''9 + - +  %% % 
.7 /++..-%-%
%''(''' + .(Ferenczi, 1909)
 +(Ferenczi, 1912)70
  +/%+/7 1
316% into+-  
/++9%+ +/7. 
(1933)0> +  +%7 
  %/.(
(% 1'E> 7%+@1935
 +  /19438 7
+.//- 7 01
.-++.   
.- .
('E(
.% feel. +     /
.../3 /(1943)
 //7
>  33 ++.
5%+.  8 
... /
! -.%.%+
 7+++
+.2 I&+- ./ -.
+ . 2-+  
3   + 3/ 
/++///++%++ %
2 /.+-- + %.
./ - . . . ! .
.  .373%
   .-      .
The Aims and Consequences of Introjection
&++. /
/7 -/"> %-7
7 /+- .- 
  0D    
+.3+.  -+11933'EC8 %/.
+ 
5+%   78 //+-
!7 /++++  .
+. 3image  introjected3
-/+8 +%++%%+
 / %> +. +. --+
%.%-+--+  /+%+
+/+6++ +./%7 .

('A(
 ++  .,.%%.+/%
..-%/%+/./+ + ++8
-+%-6+  ./+  %/+..+
-8
 %7% + +.
++experience+.! ++./.
raison d'être+++.  
/. /+%2.
/  in the momentas a way of life
(1933)  ..%  
  0introjection of the guilt feelings of the adult1'E> /+ 
 /.      />   
  /+/   /+  
  /.. /++%  +
5+7%--  //+
+   +/+-- ..
 + /+> /
 %   -.
The Relationship of Dissociation and Mutual Dissociation to Identification with the
Aggressor
  /%
.++%+- ..+.
3333333333333
J5%%  % 
external reality 7 %  +/
inner feelings ++  !+
  .%./+7 /+
..-+/   
+ 9/..+",  
+ %/ /7/+
7  /1944 .
 //7 +.7
('J(
..+ + 
-+/%9&.%% 
. /- .
-+"+%.+//8
+/%-%%  .%  
..+ %/ % 
   ".+  
++ +/  
.+/+ +
 7+/% ++. .%
  even feeling them/+ 
 + %     -.
/% 9.% /% 
&  .%   
  . .% 
 %% +
 %<+ %+.+/-  
-%+
,   .% %-%/
./%  2  ./+ %.% .
- -+/%4 '% 
 +   +  
 4% %%+%/-
+   +  -
; - -%  +/-%
% .%+ +2-+/2
/+   + 3 +  -
8+/ -(.
+% 2
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*&--%-%91932')'C'AE'J

('*(
/ 
. . +%3%3 / -
+% -. 10.  
- 3 (
-0  13-/
 .7+ . -/-+-

> .+ +.++
  & %
%  /%.% .+.
  .+-%  .
++"> +  
 /.+ .%% 
.+.+++&
   .++%+-
%>  %%%feeling/+active influence
 
&/ + 7+.
9..%/. + +/+ 
 - 119(+
(+.%//-
.  -%+.%. %+> +
  +.+--  -+.
  
> ... .  
+/!
3333333333333
', %  K !+/.
-   %"/. 
.    ./.
..% -/    
%+ .
  ..
''(1932)..0+internal silence"
1''J
(''(
  3- 
+++/%++..++/%
+.-3anticipating and avoiding / real-world
danger7+ +/ +%+ + 
/6+%3+-/%3 
+
&-(1998)+ /#
 ++0%.%+
 FG ++.%
./ -+
1HJ(H*, .
/+ /-/+-- 
+.%./-+ ++8
 %-/    +.+
 /+  +> +
+  +
- - ..%
(  + /.
. 6+8 .   
 ./ ++%/.
+ .%%3.  .+-/-
.  (12
> -   -+(+%
-"> --%
%9 (1997) /-
%.  .%
3333333333333
'! 5./1998'C('H+ 6+
-3%    
  6+9+-  0.
+ /%-
 +.%  ---
 ++%6+- - +%1
('''(
!.   
 /% (/% %/+.+  
> ..0.1 /%2+ 
% + . +  
+ /%/+07-
17-I
!. + . . % !
.%  % +  .%
  8   /
 %+  .%++%/ 
+.   %  
 > .%/ %- 
/ /+ - +  
+./( . +.  .  3
% +.+ --5   -
/.++.. 8/  3
/  % -0(1./  . 
 >(++ %%+ 
.  -/+%/+ +
(  -/+/%Davies and Frawley, 1994
5./(1996)-+- .++%
-/+-+%++ .& /+
.+%( + 
an analyst will inevitably shift his self-state when the patient shifts his …. Dissociation is
a hypnoid process … any unsignalled withdrawal from [the interpersonal] field by either
person will disrupt the other's state of mind. Thus, when an enactment begins (no matter
by whom it is initiated), no analyst can be immediately attuned to the shift in here-and-
now reality, and he inevitably becomes part of the dissociative process…. He is often in a
hypnoid state qualitatively similar to that which his patient is in … the [patient's] words
begin to take on an “unreal” quality, and this is frequently what “wakes the analyst up”
to the fact that something is “going on” [p. 527].
(''(
> %   /01.   /
/ .! .%.% /
 %  /.%/%
++..+>   
..-3  
. %3.%+   +.
5 /+7 
, --
 +.%denies %/%% 
/> +.-%+ 
 30<+% +.1 7 
3 + > 
% %. +.% 
% +-/ 7 "
 ++--/%
%  +%
8.. % - %+
% +//  . /%
.7 +.-
Long-term Consequences of Identification with the Aggressor
!  -13%/.+
%+      
7.%
++/6+%> . .-
3333333333333
')9.%  - +..
 .-   / .+
. +/(1933)+ 0introjection of the guilt
feelings of the adult1'E/>   
. % ,  +/
  . +   
-%/+">  -%
0/.1 - %.. ./   
.+0/1 .   . %
/%.5  -+ / 
   .+/ /+% 
7+. .4+.% - /  

('')(
%1932*''C'EA'A'AA81933'E)'EH('EE
. .-+/(.+. 
-/.+.%  3%% 
 /.+%
/.(1933)++/.- 
(/+ /. 
+ +/-%/%  --
+   %+.%14
1932'AJ'*/- -.
 +...  -//+ > .%/
+ +/% 7K
Fairbairn, 1943 -%-
> (+/.% 
9.+% % -  %%
 .-   +
   / /
.4-/+-
./+..%9+-(1953)
-
3333333333333
'C%.. . -.%
/. -% > 
/%   (Frankel, 1998) -+.
   + 
%/+- 1930-1932H
CCC*81931'))81932A*H(*E''EA'A''A'AA'A*'J8
1933'E)
(''C(
5/%1980 C+  6+ -
 ..-..%%.+ 
 %///+ 
/.+%  %Davies, 2000
! (1933)/+ -./+/.
0. /+.1'E)+ %
 15>    .%.-%
 .-%+ . +-%/
  +.7++ /.
 3+.+%++
-+%     %  .-
   +> +/ 
%+/ .+-%/ 
.-!  +.%++%+%> 
 3+ %--1930-
1932E81932J'J*')*)'C-%3 -/+ 
..+.. %1930-1932A81932
J*)81933'EH
+/+ (.6+
   -/- .. .%-
  %-/+/% > 
.%+-+/%%
  6++%.  /
5+  
3333333333333
'H,(1960)  (.+
2+.  6+
 .8 - + % 
+..((.. %-%  +
/.+  -+%<
.. / ,+. 
  :-/ -  01
,19601428Ferenczi, 1932.04 1*H3Smith,
19995 Barish and Vida, 1998 .%+
0 ..1 + (  
. 
(''H(
% ./%+
+ .%.. 
+ %/ -1932)8:1993
''H
! 6+    -..%
/. .-!+(1936)+ +  
+/%+  -./
.  +  -/-..%
// 3.%.+> 
-.+  %+%..
-!(.6+  /
%-%. .
. -./. Main and Hesse, 19908
Lyons-Ruth, Bronfman, and Atwood, 200089.1999138-139
-+ .   - +  +..%/
%  + %/ 
 3% . -
  +(> . 
-. -/.(1932) / 9-
. . / -. 
+/6+%%
    /+ %
+/ % .% %
.+-"2%/+  /%
 /%.+ . /(
/% -+/> .+-+
-+/%.-% %%
. .  /-+/  
-  %  +/
.+  +> +  %. 
.%-% ++++
  +/-/-.+-
-.+  .
(''E(
.%-+ .9./..%
.2+ % .
> ++.+/     
--.+-  -. 
  %//%+
./%+.+..+. 
     . /+2  . 
  /+> 6++ /%8  
+/ +%  /+% 
+/+!     ++
  /%    +   
+ -% +   +- -%-
.9.%%  /%  .
%  +  /+ %
  /%>  . /.
+ /.+!+. 
."9   ./% . 
Identification with the Aggressor as a Widespread Phenomenon, and a New Look at
Trauma
  -% . 
..+  -+-+.
/- ++ - .
.+. %. -.% 
+..
 %   .I
  .++-/%
 %   
  :.(1963).3  .
+ -0.1+++/7
(''A(
  not/ / %+..  %
 + + .- -%
+ +/73.  %.% 
+ %- .%+-+
+    /+
 -.% -. .+%  %> 
/.+    
/.. + 
+%..0.+.1 . -/
 %%+%/+%
LMMMM>.-. . +   
 (--  .%%7>./
0+ +%1--% . .
>..%   .. 
/+% -  % >.
+-/.+ %>. >.- +-
.. 6+ +-+&>.  
       . +37+ % 
+- .4%  /+  
 %>.  +-- 
././+ ./%++%>.
 %+%./% 3   /+ .
- . >. 
-.  +  
    %.  ..
4+  +/0+./1!% >./
% %
LMMMM!.(./%  .
./%/+   ./+/%
/%.  ((+ 
!-  /  -!+!
. /+/+-%3 +
+   
(''J(
. . 6+.    .
! . !./+ /+ 
 /.+%-  .  /
-%
5+7+!/ -  .%
    .9 %+/-
      ++!
/+ + %2%-+/+ 
 %> +  % .7+ .
3+%N3+  .( ..
-   !+%%believed   
/+ +/ !   !% 
/- %++    .
LMMMM%+. -+   .%%
. +  + -
+/6+%-%-.  -  
  .7+  .  . + 
%Ferenczi's, 1933+ 0.+1'EE
-+ +/%
../.-%% . .+-. 
4 ..++%+ +-%%% 
.  -/-%+.%+
.  %.-%- -/%
&+-%+  +..
/%%% +  .+ .%+
. ./+-.   8
 /.+. .%
/+//.. /+.
 .%.  
  -/-%+.  .
     .%> .  
.
(''*(
  3%+.3/.
.%+  -/%/+
+.  . -/.%. 
+ +.7%.%%!
%.  -.%-. 
+.+./++%+ /- 
+ -"././+/7

+./.+   +  
+.16+ +.+/6+  
+./ ./194119438Spitz, 19468Sullivan,
195385/%19691980+ +%+ 
./..-- %+/ -
  17
6+. ./.%+ 
-  . /. -
1933'EE>  .%  %.+% 
  +-(.
  0/1/7% 
 .%+-/  %
/  - .  
Ferenczi, 19338Miller, 1981+  +% 
   .%-%+./.
  %  . / 3   
3333333333333
'E(1932).  -   0/
//% .     // D7+
%- 1'J!Ferenczi, 192981931')J8
1932'J'EC8Frankel, 1998
'A9:(1993)+ + -.
"0>  % . /F  G-
   %D>    
 . 2 ./ -.
  . 1''H
('(
6+  /0/1%013/.  
.+ 
! ++/+.  - .
.-+/.%+%/+.1998
CE8O1998A"> %  ++3
   / 3 +  ..
-6+   +.+.
/./++/ /+./+/7
"4+ %+--+ .
 
5++ 0 asymmetrical exercise of power [is] instrinsically traumatic1
O1998AI  /+ + 4. /7 
.++. ./  -+
5+/+/7 %+ 
experience"5 +(1926)9+-18(1953)++
%-+ % >  
+  %    +--
/ -8    
% % ++%
-  /+  
 -/%./%-+/  -
+  + . %+.
  .-%/%19
.% ../ -
+%-+.-/+ +/
-  ./. % % 
  -/ ./. 
+ +.
3333333333333
'J9+-% -/% 
'*/-(1930-1932) 0small traumata%-.1E)
%.% 
(''(
-  ..%
+
    .-/%/+
--% -%%-.+/6+%%%+ 
 ./.- 
%20, -  %
%I /+ -+%+-%01 
7- ..1941 
-0..1%-++.%
% -+82.(1998) /+ 
+-.+.  +--
 +6+ /%+
  +21,++% .
+ %./%++ 
/..+./++/"//
 +.+,/..-+
.%+.-.-
  % /./%.%
 - /%+-.>   +
 +  + +.%++ + 
7+.3.. 3
B- .  
.%/++    %
+ ++ ..+ 
++%/ %
   -+%-+/ .
-%%. %
3333333333333
,. +   --%%  
%+ +  . 

'!?-(1983)6++ % /%
 
('(
       
%+--..-3% %/
+ %+ (+ /%  -
   3 %..%.-+
. > .-  
.%  /./ ++ -
!  -%- ./.
.%/+. -% 
8 6+%.%/-.-+
.. .%++22
(1932)/- + 0 +1
%.'C
! 6+/+ +   
 ." /  
+.  .
.+/6+++.-I+- 6+ 
 +./  -- %
, ./%-- %+. 
 +.+ . ..%.+8/%
%. . /%0 1+
5./(1998).> + +%/
/ -.++%
$  %... +  
 %  -0+(1(Epstein, 1979)
> . .-/+ .%
3333333333333
9(1931) %0 
.1'* @ +(1977) 
%0. . /-1))5./(1998)
0+1'A3  0 %.+
. PQ . 15./1998')J
(')(
./ -"%-++ -3
    . -  --+   
+ % 3 +/%-+
/ --./+% -+8/ -.%-%%
+.%/%+.+
 %%8..%. -!
    -/ -%.
+  ..(Frankel, 1980)2 6+
    -/.%+.. +.
/.++%:%.
+-+. .. +.
> %+ .+.' /
-/%/ -+. 
   +..%
/ +3/ .pervasive
8 /-.+
+ .+++.(%
.. +-  +.
+>  .rigid
!6+" /+ %.. +
.-++.+/.-.I& %-%
 I:%.  % 
 ..-.//%+
+ .. 3.
+++.% +-% 
  ...% +
- + /78   .+ 
8 / /7  .%,
%/%%  % +
  !%./-%
9+ can/%%
.%.+--
('C(
  23< -( %/
.. .. - 8+ ..
%-- %%  
Identification with the Aggressor in the Analytic Relationship
(1933)     %
 $%%  .%
3+-/% +35+
 % % (% 
 + >7+. -%
(- Clinical Diary (1932)
(  %  %
/%%2  .+ - 
.+ /+ % %
Patients' Identification with Therapists as Aggressors
Patients have an exceedingly refined sensitivity for the wishes, tendencies, whims,
sympathies and antipathies of their analyst, even if the analyst is completely unaware of
this sensitivity. Instead of contradicting the analyst or accusing him of errors and
blindness, the patients identify themselves with him; … normally they do not allow
themselves to criticize us, such a criticism does not even become conscious in them
[Ferenczi, 1933, pp. 157-158].
3333333333333
)>  /%(1933)  0> .+ 
 . /+././++/
+  1'E)
('H(
$%  %- 
/...-% %> %
.%/+  %%.%+ .- + .
+  %%.  %
-
, .++ %(
. %  %/%#(1968) +
 % -.   %. .+3
 -  -  .-+
 + / .+/ - /%:5.
..+> + + %%
 %/+ (Racker, 1968)> /% .
.+.  Clinical
Diary(Ferenczi, 1932)> /%   (.+
/ 9- /  . .. 
7 9 . . 
.  .  8 +/.-/ - + 
+  ++. ./ -
 .Frankel, 1993a7++.+/9-
  %+. .:%/
+.+   .%-++%
 -+ .. -++%.
"> . .-+6+.
, %%I> .%/+/- -
..."   % 4+
.+/+ -+/   % 
%+> .-+   
.++> %+
%../8.%+ 
./.! -+/-  .
 %+.
('E(
,  . - - .+
+I.5(1968)+
  +.0 1-+ +8
 .+/.-%/+.5+
/ .. . 9 
%. > %.. 3
/0 %+/71167% %
   .-36++-
> .%/+" .
  %/ . %  
+
> % %%0 1 /+ .%. 
+ -+%9 .%+-/% +
.+ -+%8 +6+
+/../01    
%/4 . .+
- 
> /..  %-   
 . + +++%
 8 +. 9..
+  %.7+ %8%
++--/+ ++
;    %/. (
+-/.% .%
+ 
!  .%-
otherwise"> %. +%  4+
+%  -! 
-/-  /-  +
5-.%/.%8.>  
+   %-. -%+%+
 -%+.% %/ .%
/+ -/-/  .+-/
('A(
 ././%  
 + - -

!01 -   "
@(1957)+  %  %
--% 01  /.+
 ++/6+24
5+  /%/
!% -+.%.%+ 
%. - + +  
/+/.-5(9+..+!%
 %.%.%- 8.: 
(1993)+,%:?+ ?
.% -/. , /! 
  -+%/+ - .
./   %    
++ 3 /.%  %3
.% +
>/.- . % 
+  +. %> 
 /+   - %
> . .  > -+/%
+ .( % %/%-+
/ %%/+  
./+ !%- + %
++Hoffman's, 1998+  %
+ %  +%.. .
 Phillips's, 1996% 
+> .+ %+
3333333333333
C9(1975) .+//  %  
%+ % 0  %13 
3.%-+% 
('J(
> +    + %  Dupont, 1988 +
/+% -%.+  
/  % 
!. % % ./+ -%
+  %  6+  /+   +
%3    %  2
%+ ..0/1
> % % % ./%+
  %/+ %
actual . > % 
.%> %-+/% 
 %  .   
.7+./%  +"0%+
%+1..!  
 %+
/-  % /
++    %+ /.
/+ % %8  + % - 
%/++%(1932)+.%.  
%(.0/%%1 EH
/-  %0 %%11933'HJ +
/   . / 0++.D/.1
1932'- 1932**   
/. .-+/ 3 
%.- /+%- %/  
%..% % 9.%5(1968)@
% .-0/ -
- .11078 /-  +- 0.
/% - ./+DF G.%/. 
+11067>  0
 .6+%+. .%   
  - .%+1107
('*(
,+#(1968) +  %%.%seek/ 
 % !.#:5.
..+%/ .  
 -    % 
.  %.+ !.+
.  % +.+%3- +%
+ . % + 3  %/  
.%/++. %./+/%
-  %+/..%. .%%.%/.+
 %+-(. +./ +/./%
.3 %+3  %!
01 .%. " /7    
 .3 +.% /  + N
5+% .+
 . 6+% > +
+%.%-+   % 6+
    
!. % 6+ .-
-%./%  %+ 
 %. +3%  6+
+. ;   
  6+  0 6+119301931
++++3   6+ 
+/7(%    %
 .-.  3  6+0.++
%1(Ferenczi, 1932)  .  % %
Ferenczi, 1933, .++%  +++
  ++ %
! ..% +...+. 
  I .  
 6+    -
(')(
/+& /++ +/- 
%  .2+ %   /
/+ -%- +++ 
% %  %
++%   + % 6+ 
+%   +.+   
 %/+--/% %013
-. -.. ./+/+ 
%%  +%  !
/- ././..
+  %7  6+
   %..  6+.++% 
%( + - %++
-+-//% 2
+   ++% + 
 %?.++%.
.%- -  6+  
%++/% ++.. .
Frankel, 1993a-.%...++%   
% . 
; 6+. ++-+  +
 -%%%   
 +  -/%  %+ % 
    
;6+" %.A%/- 
+/7. H%. .
.+.%+-    %
%-/+ I%
/ ++/%  %% %
+%are ++ .8 %.%/.-  ++
!(1933)   .-
"
(')'(
I came to realize that even these apparently willing patients felt hatred and rage [toward
me], and I began to encourage them not to spare me in any way. This encouragement,
too, failed to achieve much, for most of my patients energetically refused to accept such
an interpretive demand although it was well supported by analytic material [p. 157].
, % I+
Instead of contradicting the analyst or accusing him of errors and blindness, the patients
identify themselves with him; only in rare moments of an hysteroid excitement, i.e. in an
almost unconscious state, can they pluck up enough courage to make a protest; normally
they do not allow themselves to criticise us, such a criticism does not even become
conscious in them [pp. 157-158].
9  %    %..
.%/ %%/  
/-  . %/%%  . 
 % //-+.+/ +/.
-/.
Therapists' Identification with Patients as Aggressors
+     
> .+ .-%  .
-/> + 
   +.%+  .- % .
-   . +./
 .%/ .
4+ +.% +.%&: 
    +    
.+%++ (DiMascio and Suter, 1954) 
  patient's+/7-    therapist's
(')(
%/&:5%Greenblatt, 19574%+
.'C(%( + % + +
 %9 +  ! .
0<+.1, + /++./
.%
+.",-++-
++-+.+..+-
 ./+,.+/-+-
  - /25,. -
-  +  
++-+./  +   
  %8+,% +
  % +/+.%/
 -+/%  .. .5+
+  . -
9./++.++.+  +-  
..%/%+0=%
   19 Henry IV, Part 2)'
!% induce 
 .  $.% .%..%
. .-+++%
! +  % - +
+++ 9.  . 
  ++% +" . ++
++.+Bacal and Thomson, 1996,.%
 +/+,.%  % +   .
 +  + 
3333333333333
H9.(1919)+-% 
.%% /+ 6+.%-%  %
 +++. +6+.
('))(
+ +,.%.  . - .+> 
 .++ . .4+
+/+
%-% -/%/(
 >   
 %%++4+%(
- + +-
+ .%%" %.%/+.+
//-.- %+/8
+ + + +8+-..
. +/+++
++-.   .
5+  +.+%/.+ 
 . + ++ --. +  +.
- -+/%+.%
+%  + 
Mutual Identification with the Aggressor: Collusions
$   +%%(-
+++(Frankel, 1993a)"   +6+% 
 +  -+/%
  > ++./+ 
   /%  5 /+% 
.%+-/+ +8 %+/+
  /+ +.% 9+ 
++/6++>  %/.++
 +  +  %.++
(Benjamin, 1988)(.++.%(Frankel, 1993a)9
   ++ + 
/+/.--%+ ++
 + 
(')C(
> .++  ++++
 ++-+/%+
+%/%.-+0-%14
%+.  % -/+%/+-
. .  
./../   .
 ../3+ .3 ++.
 ..%:+++/++-7+
!.+":% ..  
+ .-+/%++- 
 +- 2  . -+   
%8.% -%4+-
-/ / 01
/  .  ++ .,
 +%/  "5%.%01-
/ +/- 8/%+ +  -
..%  .%-%  
 .+  . /+ +/ 
/+ ./.++/+ 
+/show%/ 8 7+  
4  + 6+.%..%
+/%./+... % 
 % (-( ( (3 
--/-+.%..3- .
+%+  . /+ .< .%
%(-.2.% - ..% 
/-.%01+  .%+
 +/.+%+/+!
+  ./+ %/
%/% . ..
(')H(
?/.//     
+%-%+/ .% ./
+/% .% -/..+ ..% -.  .
.  -+/%
/ +  ..+
 ++/ +/.  01  +
+/> .++  +
+(1915) +0+ ++1'*> %
.+% % % +.   
+++ 
>    +. .
      .++  %
/ +/.+%   
References
!/ .;R>:'*EJ> .+ % 
6+"> 9  @;# "=-%
 $'A('C
52!R> .$B'**E> % %/7 
 + ."!-+"Basic
Ideas Reconsidered"Progr. Self Psychol.O'!B/2;"> 
!%$[→]
5:'*EJ> 5+"> +!#?"
>-[→]
5 9RO'**J0!/1"&-+.
+-Am. J. PsychiatryHJ"J)(*A
57.'*JJ> 5?-;<"$ 5
5/%'*E*! .;<"55[→]
5/%'*J?"9&;<"55
5./$'**E9 "> .+% 
% % Contemp. Psychoanal.)"H*(H)H[→]
5./$'**J9 92;"> !%$
&-'**J#3+"/.
++"/> ;;9R&9 
2;"> !%$H)(E*
&-&  +3%"
..%/%5/$B4B//Psychoanal. Dial.
'"'*(*[→]
(')E(
&-R%:B'**C> !+9+--  9+
!/+;<"55
&:!!5%#,RB/:'*HA$ %
.+%  %"!+% %%
Psychosom. Med.'*"**('C
&:!!R9+'*HC$% /-% 
-J. Nerv. Ment. Dis.'"C')(C'C
&+'*JJ+"> &%9S&+
:5R;T./:!"2-=-%$
'**A: "> /% - % 
$.&-$% %&-)*!.$% 
!&-4/+%A
9'*A*> /%/ -"4. .+ 
 .J. Pers. & Soc. Psychol.)A"'*A(''E
/,#&'*C'!-%  % % 
% +"$% %9+ $%?"#+R
@$+'*HJ(HJ[→]
/,#&'*C)>  +//7"
$% %9+ $%?"#+R@$+'*H
H*(J'[→]
/,#&'*CC% ++./7(
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Article Citation [Who Cited This?]
Frankel, J.  !
Psychoanal. Dial.'"''(')*
... The identification with the aggressor theory could serve as a framework to further understand these findings. Identification with the aggressor is a paradoxical defense mechanism, first defined by Ferenczi (Frankel, 2002). Like other defense mechanisms, identification with the aggressor protects the mind from threatening content, anxieties, and impulses. ...
... However, the paradox is that an abused person identifies with the perpetrator, adopting perceptions, beliefs, and behaviors that justify the perpetrator's behavior. Ferenczi claimed that identifying with the aggressor is the child's way of feeling the desires and expectations of the perpetrator, thereby gaining an understanding of the perpetrator that potentially reduces the possibility of harm or being abused again (Ferenczi & Dupont, 1988;Frankel, 2002). Similarly, other family members present during ongoing physical abuse could be considered as being exposed to traumatic events. ...
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